What Is Hawthorn?

Hawthorn is a medicinal tree has been used since at least the Middle Ages as both a food and herb for the heart. It is used for both spiritual and physical ailments. The leaf, flower, and berry are all used. Occasionally, hawthorn berries will develop a white film on the outside of the berry, which is the crystalized berry sugar.

How to Use Hawthorn (Common Uses)

Hawthorn can be taken internally as a tea, powder, decoction, capsules, or extract. Hawthorn can also be used for cooking.

Medicinal Uses and Benefits of Hawthorn

Hawthorn is considered to be energetically warm, sweet, and sour.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) it is often used to support digestion and the liver.

Western herbalism uses hawthorn primarily for the heart and circulatory system.

The flavonoids found in hawthorn leaves, flowers, and berries can help to increase cardiac performance and increase circulation. It can have a normalizing and toning effect on heart, and may help to lower blood pressure slightly.

Hawthorn can be used to help improve the integrity of blood vessels and capillaries. It is an excellent source of antioxidants, and can help stabilize collagen in the body.

Hawthorn may have benefits when used for mild anxiety.

Active Constituents in Hawthorn

Oligomeric procyanidins, flavonoids, quercetin, luteolin, rutin, phenylethylamine, tyramine, choline.

Notable Facts About Hawthorn

For the ancient Druids, hawthorn was a sacred medicinal tree said to house fairies.

Dioscorides recommended hawthorn to help with digestive issues and other ailments.

In Greek folklore it has been involved in wedding rituals and has been used to decorate altars to worship the goddess of marriage, Hymen.

Newborn babies in Ireland have had hawthorn hung from their cradles to protect against evil, and it has been used to decorate the maypoles for Beltane ceremonies.